Monday, November 26, 2012

What I'm Thankful For In The WWE

It is Thanksgiving weekend here in the United States. A time to eat some good food, gather with friends and family, and truly be thankful for everything that we have in life. With the WWE, 2012 has been a rough year. There is not a lot to like about the current product. But there have been some bright spots in the WWE this year. I wouldn't say the WWE has been a complete failure this year. There are some things to be thankful for in the WWE. As a writer and a fan, these are the things that I am thankful for.1. C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman
I can honestly say that these two have kept me from losing my mind while watching and writing about RAW the last few months. Ever since these two were paired together in late summer, they have been great on TV. Paul Heyman is such a great promo man. He alone can hype up anything. That is why I would love to have Heyman and Punk form some type of stable, possibly like the one that may be formed with Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Reigns. You put these guys out there with Heyman hyping them up, and they instantly become that much better.

C.M. Punk's year long reign as WWE Champion has been great. With the way the WWE has changed their Titles around in the past few years, it is honestly shocking that they have kept the Title on Punk that long. Punk's matches are almost always at the *** level. His feud and matches with Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan were great. Him and John Cena have great chemistry in the ring. Punk continues to work wonders on the mic and has great exchanges with Mick Foley. Every time Punk talks about getting respect, and every time someone tries to counteract his point, Punk always comes back with facts. Once Punk finishes up with Ryback, I am very much looking forward to his program with The Rock. I don't expect Punk to hold anything back.

Another thing I look forward to is how Brock Lesnar interacts with these two once he comes back during Wrestlemania season. Lesnar adds the muscle to the group, and this time he would have Punk and Heyman to cover up his lack of promo ability. I'm thankful that C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman have kept me sane while watching RAW and are what have me looking forward to the months ahead in the WWE.

2. Dolph Ziggler
I swear, if the WWE finds ways to screw up Dolph Ziggler, then all the writers should seriously be fired. If C.M. Punk consistently puts on the best matches in the WWE, then Dolph Ziggler is a close second. Ziggler knows how to work in the ring and sells bumps like no one else in the business. He also still has the Money in the Bank briefcase with him. There is no doubt in my mind that Dolph Ziggler will eventually cash in and win the World Title. At this point, I would hold off on the cash in until Wrestlemania. Have him become a star on the big stage. I know Dolph is stuck in this stupid love story with Cena, A.J. and Vickie. But he's the one actually keeping this thing bearable. His running down of A.J. last week on RAW was great heel work by him. And having him in a real program with Cena only boosts his main event status in the eyes of fans. By mid-2013, Dolph Ziggler should be a fixture at the top of Smackdown and/or RAW, and he should be World Heavyweight Champion. I'm thankful that Dolph Ziggler knows how to entertain in the ring and appears to have a bright future ahead of him.

3. A Revived Tag Team Division
At this time last year we weren't even sure if the WWE knew that the Tag Team Titles existed. For the last couple of years, the WWE simply used the tag team titles as props or to make two guys fighting down the line Champions to add an UNEXPECTED TWIST to the storyline. But now the WWE has a legitimate tag team division and they are putting time into each individual tag team and making it work. Of course the Champions, Daniel Bryan and Kane, are getting the most attention. I hope the WWE eventually gets to the point with those two. My patience with them is waring thin. Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow work well together as a team. I think they have futures as singles stars, but they work as a team now. Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara are a good pair. I really like the Prime Time Players act. I never liked anything Darren Young and Titus O'Neil did separately, but together they work great as a team. Then you have Team CoBro and 3MB a little lower on the card along with Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd. I'm looking forward to the potential Ladder Match there will at TLC between whatever combo of teams they use. I'm thankful that the WWE actually cares about their tag team division for once and are giving guys opportunities that they wouldn't have had in years past.

4. John Cena Being Away From the WWE Title
As impressive as C.M. Punk's year long WWE Title reign has been, I think it is even more impressive that John Cena has not held the WWE Title during the entire calendar year of 2012. Sure, Cena has still main evented most PPVs and has been involved in some pretty terrible storylines, but he has been away from the WWE Title for the most part. I would rather him be involved in terrible storylines that don't involve the WWE Title than ones that do. Cena being away from the WWE Title is also good in the long run. It actually makes Cena's next Title win seem like a big deal. As long as it isn't at Wrestlemania. Keeping Cena away from the WWE Title has allowed other guys to step up into the WWE Title picture. Guys like Ryback and Daniel Bryan are getting an opportunity they may not have received a few years ago with Cena on top. I'm thankful the WWE decided to keep the WWE Title off of John Cena for a whole calendar year and let other guys get a shot at the top.

5. Antonio Cesaro
Out of all the mid-card acts in the WWE, Cesaro is by far my favorite. I like Wade Barrett and Kofi Kingston, but they don't come close to Cesaro for me. The problem Cesaro is going to run into is that there are a log jam of heels on the WWE roster and only so many pushes to go around. Cesaro is definitely behind Ziggler and Barrett at this point. I like where he is right now as United States Champion. He's just a natural hateable character in WWE land. The way he delivers his uppercut is great. And his finisher, the Neutralizer, looks good when it is delivered to bigger man like Brodus Clay .I would like to see Cesaro put in more of a long term feud. I really don't see him losing to R-Truth. Maybe a returning Christian would do. Or even Miz if they decide to do his face turn properly. Cesaro is a good act and has the look Vince McMahon likes to have in his main eventers. Similar to Ziggler, I really hope the WWE does not screw this one up.